Method and apparatus for the suction of broken ends and dusting of textile machines



March 28, 1961 REITERER 2,976,668

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE SUCTION 0F BROKEN ENDS AND DUSTING OF TEXTILE MACHINES Filed July 23, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR$ FERDINAND REITERERV Byanwaiww ATTORNEYS March 28, 1961 F. REITERER 7 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE SUCTION 0F BROKEN ENDS AND DUSTING OF TEXTILE MACHINES Filed July 23, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS FERD\NN \IQ REH'ERER ATTORNEYS March 28, 1961 F REITERER 2,976,668

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE SUCTION 0F BROKEN Filed July 25, 1959 ENDS AND DUSTING OF TEXTILE MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 K g g/' INVENTORSI FERmNAMD Ran-E222.

ATTORNEYS March-28, 1961 F REITERER 2 976,668

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE SUCTION OF BROKEN ENDS AND DUSTING OF TEXTILE MACHINES Filed July 25, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS. FERDINAND EEITERER ATTORNEYS March 1961 F. REITERER 76,668

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE SUCTION OF BROKEN ENDS AND DUSTING 0F TEXTILE MACHINES Filed July 23, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 6 F1 F1 D C] I Fzv F2 A. P

INVENTORS F RmNAND REWERER B YEAMMMMW ATTORNEYS United States latent METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE'SUCTION OF BROKEN ENDS AND DUSTING F TEXTILE MACHINES Ferdinand Reiterer, Rueil Malmaison, France, assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, to Parks-Crainer Company, Worcester, Mass, acorporation of Massachusetts essing machines.

According'to the invention, the method isperformed by apparatus characterized essentially, by the fact that it comprises the combination of a device for the suction,

of broken ends of yarn and a device for dusting of successive areas or zones, the suction being created in both devices by a common suction device.

The above can be realized in the following two manners: the first, which is particularly suited for machines already havinga collector or elongate channel or duct for the suction of the broken ends, comprises .two separate collectors or channels intended, respectively, for the suction of the ends and forthe dusting; whereas the second variation consists of a sole collector or channel which serves :at the same'time for the suction of the ends and for the'dusting. It is to be 'noted that the machine may also be equipped with a first suction collector or channel operating continuously, which'serves at the'same .time for the suction of the ends and for the dusting; and a second suction collector or channel, operating intermittently for the dusting; however, in both instances, the collector, or collectors, lead 'to the same Waste collector box where the filter and the sole source of suction are located.

Mention should be made of the fact that the suction of'the broken ends should necessarily be constant because these ends should be picked up as soon as they break, 45

This

"before they become entangled in the machine. continuous suction does not ofier any difficulties inasmuch as said suction takes place in "localized areas; the nozzles of the suction heads being small, and emerging in the immediate proximity of the drawing rolls, where the "breakage of the ends generally occurs. 'Thus, the abovementioned suction 'does not require an excessive consumption of energy.

0n the other hand, it is practically impossible to I realize a continuous suction of lint and dust vover large areas because this suction should be efiected not in certain localized sections, but in a very extensive-area. Consequently, in order to obtain a sufiicient output of air 'it would necessitate a considerable amount of energy which might exceed that which is required for the functioning of the machine itself and, also, it might be necessary to utilize very large containers which generally cannot be fitted into the available space within the machine.

Moreover, due to considerable losses of charge, the suction or negative pressure is not uniform all along the channel, but it is stronger close to the fan and weaker "alternative manner, feeding these successive zones or areas, one at a time.

According to'the present invention, the advantage of this apparatus is that it renders possible the realization 2,976,668 Patented Mar. 28, 1961 ice of these twosystems of suction simultaneously; continuous for'the ends, and alternating-for the lint, by utilizing for this purpose only one, -assembled, motor-fan, which're'nders the operation as economical as possible.

This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending UnitedStates application's Serial Numbers 787,- 259, 797,219 and 802,470, filed January 16, 1959, March 4, 1959, and March 27, 1959, respectively, and respectively entitled Valve Arrangements; Suction Cleaning System for Textile Machinery; and Method and Apparatus for the 'Removal -of Dust.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a somewhat schematic side elevation of the "novel combination lint and broken-end collecting apparatus as arranged for application to spinning or other textile machines;

Figure 2 is a'somewh'a't schematic transverse vertical "sectional .view through a spinning frame showing the improved apparatus as though looking at the right-hand side of Figure l;

, Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary isometric view,

with parts broken away, showing one of the zonal suction mouth units; 1

Figure 4 isa vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 4- 4 in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is ?'a schematic electrical diagram Showing how the valves may be controlled by a rotary switch;

Figure 6 is a side elevation similar to Figure l-showing how the "valves may be controlled 'by an overhead traveling cleaner, and looking at the opposite side of the machine from that of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a-view similar to Figure 2 showing a modified form of the invention in which the broken ends and lint from the various zones are carried to the collection box by a commonchannel or duct.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, Figures 1 through :6 illustrate the first embodiment of the invention in which the continuous and the alternating suction collectors or channels are separate. As already mentioned, this variation would apply more particularly (although not-.exclusively) to machines which already have a continuous end-suction channel which is more economical to preserve by replacing the fan in the filter box with a I more powerful fan.

'lnFigures 1 and 2, 1 indicates the usual suction and waste collector box or filter box in which the sole suction fan is 2 is-placed, driven by a motor 3. In said box or container 1 there is also a filter 4. Filter-4 is formed .by a metallic case which divides the filter in 'two compartments;a,b, .one'for the collection of broken ends and the other 'forthe collection of dustand otherwastecomposed of short-fibered "lint. A first collector-,iduct or channels. extends from filter box 1, in communication with compartment 11, for the continuous suction of the broken 'ends. A :plurality of broken-end suction heads such as 2'6 are connected to channel '5 and are-placed near drawingrolls 7,'through which feed "bohbins 9.

A second collector, duct or channel it also leads to container. .1 and communicates with filter compartment 11.

I To saidi collector it are joined, lay-means of valves 11 actuated by electromagnets or solenoids 12,, a plurality of zonal suctioncompartments 13, each having at least one'pipe 'or mouth emerging preferably at a level lower than that of the'drawing rolls 7. Valves 11 and electropending United States applications, and are shown- 21s being of-the type disclosed in UnitedSta'tes patent application Serial-NoJ 787,259. The suction compartments pass ends fi coming 'from magnets 12 maybe of the types disclosed inour saidcothereof may be adjustable.

.ing 13c formed in the top wall of said second channel 10. In order to adjustably secure suction compartment 13 in the desired position about its vertical axis, a plurality of circularly spaced clips 13d may be fixed to the upper wall of channel 10, and each has a set screw or adjustment screw 13a thread-ed therethrough so as to clampingly engage the upper surface of base plate 13b.

It will be noted that frame 13a is also provided with a plurality of adjustment -screws 13 therein for clampingly securing each suction compartment 13 in the desired vertically adjusted position.

Each of the mouths c, d may be provided with suitable meansfor-varying the effective size thereof, such means being embodied in a manually adjustable shutter or louvre 13g whose plates or vanes, are pivotally supported in each month and are also pivotally interconnected by an arm 13h which may be held in the desired adjusted position by means of a set screw 13 penetrating a sleeve 13k carried by suction compartment 13.

The combination of the suction compartments 13 and of channel 10, is housed within a longitudinal case whose -lower wall 14 (Figures 2 and 3) forms the bottom of the channel 10, and of which the side walls are foraminated and are shown in the form of screens 15 (Figures 2 and 6), so lint, dust and the like may pass therethrough to mouths c, d, which may be regulated. Said case is open in its upper part, and it is divided by transverse partitions 16 (Figure 1) into several compartments I, II, III, IV, V, each containing a suction compartment 13.

Valves 11 may be opened and closed in any desired sequence by means of a commutator or rotary switch such asthat shown in Figure 5, or by means of a traveling overhead cleaner. such as that shown in Figure 6, or by any other suitable means. The diagram of Figure 5 and structure of Figure 6 will be later described in detail. It is apparent that, since valves 11 may be opened and closed in succession, so is the suction realized in succession in the various compartments 1, II, III, IV, and V.

It should be noted in Figure 2 that suction takes place, on

one hand, in the upper part of the case following arrows F ,(Figure 2), for sucking away the lint which originates before the drawing rolls 7, and on the other hand, it takes place through lateral screens 15, following arrows F for sucking away the lint susceptible of becoming enntangled'with the threads 17 which are to be wound on bobbins 18.

Referring to Figure 5, it will be noted that five valves 11 are shown corresponding to the five valves of Figure 1, although a greater or lesser number of valves may be employed. All the electromagnets or solenoids 12 may,

for example, be supplied with current by a rotary commutator switch or distributor 30 driven by a motor 31.

\ By varying the speed of motor 31, the frequency or duration, or both, of the successive sucking actions in the different suctionzcompartments 13 may be varied. The power of suction can be adjusted differently in each compartment 13 by simply altering the angle or opening of the corresponding shutters or valves 11 by adjusting an Each segment 33 of distributor switch 30 has a re- Spective conductor 34 leading therefrom, in which a manually operable switch 35 may be interposed. Conductors 34 each extends to one end of a coil of a respective relay 36. The other side of the coil of each relay 36 has a conductor 37 leading therefrom to a common conductor 40 connected to a lead conductor 41. Conductor 41 leads from one side of a source of alternating current 42 to one side of electric motor 31. The source of alternating current 42 also has a lead conductor 43 leading therefrom to the other side of motor 31. Conductor 41 preferably has a manually operable switch 44 interposed therein.

Each relay 36 is interposed in a conductor 45 connected to one side of the coil of the respective solenoid 12. All the conductors 45 are connected to a common conductor 46. Conductors 47 are connected to the other sides of the coils of solenoids 12 and their other ends are connected to a common conductor 50.

Conductors 46, 50 extend to a rectifier bridge 51, one side of which is connected to conductor 40 by a conductor 52, and theother side of which is connected to conductor 43 by a conductor 53. Thus, bridge 51 serves to reduce the current which may flow to solenoids 12 when relays 36 are successively energized by engagement of brush 32 with respective segments 33 of rotary switch It will be noted that a conductor 54is also connected to lead conductor 43 through the medium of conductor 53.

. From the foregoing, it is apparent that rotating brush 32 causes energization of respective solenoids 12, with corresponding opening of the respective valves 11, in

accordance with the length of the respective segments 33 and the speed of motor 31.

Now, referring to Figure 6, the valves are shown operated in conjunction with a blower-type overhead traveling cleaner 60 which directs blasts of air inwardly toward the elongate upper and lower channels 5, 10, and which may also direct blasts of air over the upper surfaces of the ,top walls of channels 5, 10. As the traveling valves in succession and synchronism with the movement of the blower means or traveling cleaner.

Thereare many different types of blowers which may be used for directing streams of air toward the elongate enclosures or housings embodying the suction heads, channels and zonal suction chambers of the present invention.

For example, blower-type traveling cleaners which may be used in association with the present invention are disclosed in United States Patents Nos. 2,047,558 and 2,695,039 issued July 14, 1936, and November 23, 1954,

respectively.

The traveling cleaner or blower of Figure 6 is broadly designated at and comprises a volute casing 61 within circularly spaced arcuatecontact members or segments 33, which may be closely spaced so that brush 32 may engage one segment momentarily as it moves into en- ..zsssmsm withv the ne e ing s m which a fan or air impeller 62 is positioned. Impeller 62 may be driven by an electric motor 63 mounted on a carriage 64 which also serves asa gear box in this instance. Carriage 64 has rollers 65 on opposite sides thereof, one

Rollers 65ride upon spaced parallel tracks 66 forming a trackway 67. As is well known, trackways, such as trackway 67, extend over one or more rows of machines, such as the spinning machine shown in the drawing.

Casing 61 may be open at its upper or lower portion to provide an air inlet and the side air outlets of the casing 61 are provided with dependentsleevesor tubes -73 for directing blasts of air onto various parts of the machine as the traveling cleaner moves thereby.

The remaining portions or elements of traveling cleaner 60 are substantially as disclosed in our said copending application Serial No. 797,219 and also as disclosed in the last-mentioned United States Patents Nos. 2,047,558 and 2,695,039. Therefore, a further detailed description of the traveling cleaner is deemed unnecessary.

Now, in order to actuate valves 11 in synchronism with the movement of the traveling cleaner 60, one of the tracks 66 of trackway 67 may be provided with a plurality of elongate actuating elements 75, each of which may be in the form of an elongate plate pivotally connected to one side of the corresponding track 66, as 'by hinges 76. Actuating plates 75 are preferably of such length as to maintain open the respective valves as the traveling cleaner 60 moves from a position substantially half-way between one pair of adjacent valves 11 to a position halfway between one of the latter valves and the next succeeding valve.

It will be observed that opposed ends of each actuating plate 75 are curved downwardly, as at 77, and may terminate short of corresponding ends of the next adjacent actuator plates 75. These curved ends 77 are provided on the actuator plates 75 facilitate movement of a cam 80, carried by or movable with carriage 64, into engage ment with the upper surfaces of the respective plates 75.

In the present instance, cam 80 is shown suitably secured to carriage 64, and opposed sides of cam 80 may be inclined or curved downwardly in converging relationship to further enable cam 80 to move into engagement with the upper surfaces of successive actuator plates 75. It is apparent that, as each actuator plate is engaged by cam 80, this actuator plate is swung downwardly. In so doing, each actuator plate moves into engagement with and closes a respective normally open switch 82 interposed in an electrical circuit between a source of electrical energy and the corresponding electromagnet or solenoid 12.

As shown schematically in Figure 6, each switch 82 may be electrically connected with the corresponding electromagnet or solenoid 12 by a conductor 83 leading from a source of current to one side of switch 82 and a con ductor 84 leading from the other side of switch 82 to one side of an electromagnet or solenoid 12. Another conductor 86 leads from the other side of electromagnet 12 to the other side of said course of current, thelatter circuit being shown by way of illustration only.

It is thus seen that, each time traveling cleaner 60 moves above a corresponding suction compartment 13, the respective valve 11 is opened to a certain extent by the closing of the respective switch 82. Cam 80 and actuator plates 75 are shown as being particularly arranged to facilitate movement of carriage 64 around bends formed in trackway 67. Of course, in instances in which the blower or traveling cleaner 60 moves in one direction and then in the opposite direction along a straight trackway extending above a row of machines, the actuator plates 75 need not be attached to trackway 67 and, instead, a single actuator plate may be suitably secured to or formed integral with cam 80 for actuating each successive switch 82. Any suitable means may be provided for operating the valves in succession to intermittently effect suction currents in successive suction chambers 13 in accordance with the movement of the traveling cleaner thereby.

Another form of the invention is shown in Figure 7 which is quite similar to the first form to the extent that continuous suction is efiected at the drawing rolls 7 while intermittent suction is created at successive zones of substantial magnitude, and wherein the broken ends picked up by the suction heads and the lint picked up by the suction months are conveyed to a common filter box. The form of the invention in Figure 7 differs from the first form in that only one conduit or channel 19 is connected to the suction container or filter box, and from which emerge the broken-end suction heads 6.

Dust-suction compartments 20 are communicatively connected to the lower or bottom wall of duct or channel 19 by means of valves 11. With the exception of being inverted, dust-suction compartments 2'0 and associated valves 11 are identical to the compartments 13 and valves 11 of the first form of the invention shown in Figures 14. Accordingly, a further detailed description of the structure shown in Figure 7 will not be given, and remaining elements shown in Figure 7 will bear the reference numerals as like elements shown in Figures 1 through 4, where applicable.

It is thus seen that we have provided a novel suction cleaning method and apparatus for textile machines in which suction is permanently elfected in the roll clearing suction heads associated with drafting rolls 7 while suction is intermittently effected in the different zonal chambers 13 communicating with the atmosphere so that relatively small power means may be used for creating extremely powerful suction currents at the inlets or mouths of the various suction chambers and at the suction heads and, further, wherein all the broken ends are directed to one compartment and the lint and the like received by the suction mouths are directed to another compartment, both within the same filter box, and whereby the broken ends may be removed from the filter box without beingintermixed or intermingled with the lint and other fibers which are carried into the filter box through the medium of the suction mouths c, d. As shown in Figure 6, access doors e, 1, may be provided .on filter box 1 for removing the accumulated broken ends and lint from the respective compartments a, b of filter 4.

In the drawings and specification there have been set forth preferred embodiments of the invention and, al though specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. A method of cleaning textile machines of the type having means for processing ends of yarn which comprises creating continuous suction adjacent the path of travel of the ends to continuously draw away broken ends while successively and intermittently creating suction currents in different zones while producing all such currents at a common point.

2. A' method of removing broken ends from the drafting rolls of textile machines and removing dust, lint and the like from adjacent other processing instrumentalities of said textile machines which comprises creating suction currents at a common point and utilizing said suction currents for continuous suction of broken ends and for 1 intermittent suction of dust at successive zones adjacent said other processing instrumentalities whereby the continuous and intermittent suction currents convey broken ends, dust, lint and the like to a common point.

3. A method of cleaning textile machines having means for processing ends of yarn which comprises continuously producing suction currents of air in restricted areas adjacent the path of the ends being processed and intermittently producing suction currents of air at each of a plurality of other and different relatively large zones adjacent the machine while successively producing said suction currents at all of said relatively large zones in a predetermined sequence and moving, the continuous and intermittent suction currents to a common source of suction.

4. A method of cleaning textile machines having means for processing ends of yarn which comprises continuously producing suction currents of air in restricted areas adjacent the path of the ends being processed,

intermittently producing suction currents of air, concurrently with the first-mentioned suction currents, at each of a plurality of other and difierent relatively large zones all of the suction currents to a common source of suction.-

5. A method of cleaning textile machines having means for processing ends of yarn which comprises continuously producing suction currents of air in restricted areas adjacent the paths of the ends being processed and intermittently producing suction currents of air at each of a plurality of other and difierent relatively large zones adjacent the machine while successively producing said suction currents at all of said zones in a predetermined sequence, and filtering the air while moving all of the suction currents to a common source of suction.

6. A method of removing broken ends from the drafting rolls of textile machines and removing dust, lint and the like from adjacent other processing instrumentalities of the textile machines; which comprises continuously producing suction currents at restricted zones adjacent said drafting rolls while successively and intermittently producing other suction currents at a plurality :of independent zones adjacent said other instrum'entalities for respective periods of predetermined duration, and

filtering and moving all of such suction currents to a common container.

7. A method of removing broken ends from the drafting rolls of textile machines and removing dust, lint and the like from adjacent other processing instrumentalities of said textile machines; which comprises continuously producing suction currents at restricted zones adjacent said drafting rolls while successively and intermittently producing other suctioncurrents at a plurality of independent zones adjacent said other instrumentalities for respective periods of predetermined duration and while overlapping periods during which successive currents are produced at said independent zones, moving all of such suction currents to a common container, and filtering broken ends, dust and lint from the air at said container.

8. A method of cleaning textile machines having means for processing ends of yarn which comprises continuously producing suction currents of air in restricted areas adjacent the path of the ends being processed and intermittently producing suction currents of air at each of a plurality of other and difierent relatively. large zones adjacent the machine while successively producing .said suction currents of all of said zones in a predetermined sequence, and moving the continuous suction currents and the intermittent suction currents through separate filtering compartments and to a common source of suction.

9. A method of removing broken ends from the drafting rolls and removing dust, lint and the like from adjacent other processing instrumen-talities of textile machines which-comprises creating suction currents at a common point and utilizing said suction currents for continuous suction of broken ends and for intermittent suction of dust at successive zones adjacent said processing instrumentalities and collecting the dust and broken ends in separate filtering compartments interposed in the path of flow of the suction currents to a common point.

10. A suction apparatus for cleaning textile machines having drafting rolls; comprising channel means extending longitudinally of each machine, suction heads disposed adjacent the drafting rolls and in continuous communication with said channel means, a. plurality of openmout-hed suction chambers communicating with said channel means, a single blower means for producing suc tion in said channel means, and means for intermittently opening and closing the mouths of the suction chambers to the inward flow of air in a predetermined sequence.

11. A structure according to claim 10 in which said channel means is in the form of a single channel to which the suction heads and the suction chambers are connected. y 12. A structure according to claim 10 in which said channel means comprise two separate elongated chan nels, said suction heads being communicatively connected to one of the channels, said suction chambers being communicatively connected With the other of the channels, and both channels communicating with said single blower means.

13. A structure according to claim 10 in which the mouths of said suction chambers are disposed below the level of said suction heads.

14. A structure according to claim 10 in which said means for opening and closing the mouths of the suction chambers comprises a valve within each chamber.

15. A structure according to claim 10 including means for adjusting the effective size of each of said mouths.

16. A structure according to claim 10 including means to adjust each suction chamber about its respective substantial vertical axis.

17. A structure according to claim 10 including means for adjusting the height of the mouths of the suction chambers relative to the machine.

18. A structure according to claim 10 in which there are two months for each chamber facing in opposite directions with respect to the longitudinal axis of the machine.

19. A structure according to claim 10 including a filter box in which said blower means is located, a filter in said box, said filter being divided into at least two separate compartments, and said channel means being connected to said filter box for communication with said compartments in such manner that broken ends from the suction heads are collected in one of said compartments and dust, lint and the like from said suction chambers are collected in the other of said compartments.

20. A structure according to claim 10 in which said machines are each provided with a longitudinal case below the level of said suction heads and within which said suction chambers are disposed.

21. A structure according to claim 20 in which said case comprims screened side walls.

22. A structure according to claim 20 wherein said case is provided with a plurality of transverse and longitudinally spaced partitions, adjacent partitions defining respective compartments therebetween and one of said suction chambers being disposed within each of the lastmentioned compartments.

23. A suction apparatus for cleaning textile machines having drafting rolls; comprising channel means extending longitudinally of each machine, suction heads disposed adjacent the drafting rolls and in continuous communication with said channel means, a plurality of openmouthed suction chambers communicating with said channel means, a single fan for producing suction in said channel means, valve means in each suction chamber for opening and closing the suction mouths to the inward flow of air, electromagnetic means for operating each of'said valve means, and means for intermittently actuating said electromagnetic means in a predetermined sequence.

24; A structure according to claim 23 including a traveling cleaner movable past the textile machine and having means for blowing air onto various parts of the machine, and said means for actuating said electromagnetic means being under control of said traveling cleaner.

25. A structure according to claim 23 in which said means foractuating said electromagnetic means cornpris es aplurality of circularly arranged segmental contacts and a rotary brush, said contacts and brush being interposed in an electrical circuit to said electromagnetic means.

26. A suction apparatus for cleaning textile machines having drafting rolls; comprising a pair of channels extending longitudinally of the machine, suction heads cornm nifiating with one channel and disposed closely ad a- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hodge July 14, 1936 Hodge Dec. 8, 1936 Bahnson May 19, 1959 Bahnson July 26, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS France Sept. 28, 1955 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No, 2 976 668 March 28 1961 Ferdinand Reiterer' It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as "corrected below.

In the grant line 3 address of assignee for "Worcester Massachusetts read Fitchhnr'g Massachusetts in the heading to the printed specification line 7, for -"'V\7orcester Mass, read um Fitchburg Masso Signed and sealed this 19th day of September 1961a (SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents USCOM M-DC- 

